Corner store newly stocked

The Patriots overhauled their cornerback corps in the offseason, so naturally much of the attention during training camp and the preseason has been on the newcomers.

How are Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs fitting in? Can the two veterans perform at a consistent and high level? Will rookie Darius Butler be an immediate contributor? (The answers, by the way, are: fine, seems that way, and count on it.)

Meanwhile, Terrence Wheatley has pretty much gone unnoticed while trying to re-establish himself after a rookie season that ended abruptly due to a wrist injury incurred against the Colts in Week 9. He appeared in just six games with one start, against Indianapolis, while making two tackles.

“I think it’s a work in progress,” Wheatley said of his sophomore season thus far. “After getting hurt last year and missing half the season, you’re still a rookie, but yet not a rookie. I’m still out there learning. I’m taking it day by day. I need to go out there and feel comfortable and that takes time.”

Wheatley went from overlooked to under the microscope Thursday, allowing the only touchdown of night in the Patriots’ 7-6 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Chris Henry beat Wheatley on a 24-yard toss to the left corner of the end zone from quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan.

The play came immediately following an offensive pass interference penalty that negated a Cincy touchdown and sort of got Butler off the hook.

“We got the call, so that was a good thing,” Wheatley said. “Then they came back with a different route. It was a good play by him and a crappy play by me, so that was something that shouldn’t have happened, but you live and you learn.”

Like goalies and relief pitchers, cornerbacks need to have a short memory. Giving up completions comes with the position, the idea is to not dwell on them and let it affect your play.

Wheatley, though, believes that’s only partly true.

“You remember it until you learn from it — until you figure out exactly what happened,” the former Colorado standout said. “Once you figured it out you just store that and you forget about the (play). I’ll take a look at it and figure out what he did and what did I do, what I could have done to prevent it. Then you erase it and go back and keep playing.”

Wheatley had four tackles against the Bengals, but whiffed on one. That miss allowed Chad Ochocinco to turn a short pass into a lengthy reception of 35 yards before being run out of bounds by Tedy Bruschi in the third quarter.

On the positive side, Wheatley recovered a fumble after safety Brandon McGowan knocked the ball loose early in the second quarter. But there have been more downs than ups so far and that’s frustrating.

“This is a game of momentum and confidence,” Wheatley said. “So when you start to build some confidence and start to play well and then you do have a setback, it’s like hitting the reset button and you have to start over again.”

Wheatley, drafted in the second round last year with the 62nd overall pick, has had his problems in the preseason. His wrist, though, hasn’t been one of them.

“Well, you have to force yourself to use it,” Wheatley said. “Obviously, when you hurt something you don’t want to use it. That’s something I worked on during (offseason training activities) and rehabbing it. Now it’s not a big deal at all.”

The competition at cornerback has been fierce, which was the idea behind the offseason import of talent.

Unlike fellow second-year pro Jonathan Wilhite, who is making a strong bid for Springs’ starting job, Wheatley has yet to rise to the challenge. Then again, he hasn’t backed down either.

“It’s a battle every day,” Wheatley said. “You have to go out there and be able to make plays and not really give up any plays. That’s the mentality you have to have.

“You have to be able to go out there every day. If you have a good day, erase it because it’s another day. If you have a bad day it’s the same thing. That’s the mentality you have to have.”

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